This wonderful 3-D peephole optical toy, manufactured by J. S. Philstrom in the late 1880s, shows a view of Chicago’ s famous Lincoln Park! The drawings are spectacularly detailed! The paper even has some embossing to add to the level of intricacy! Statues of Linne, Lincoln, Grant, Schiller, Lasalle, and others can be seen in this pleasant montage! What a beautiful view of the park!

More sophisticated toys like the stereoscope, kaleidoscope, and magic Lantern also fall into the optical toy category. Many historians link these toys to the invention of the cinema. This little 3-D view of Lincoln Park was a Victorian child’s version of the 3-D movies of today.

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on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 at 10:51 pm and is filed under Optical Toys.
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